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As stated by a senior military official, the US military carried out a lethal strike on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of four people.

“Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel linked to a terrorist group in international waters. Surveillance verified the vessel was transiting along a known drug smuggling route and was involved in illicit drug transport. All four male narco-terrorists were eliminated, and no US military forces were injured.”

Context and Recent Strikes

The statement follows a day after a declaration regarding a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. In that announcement on social media, the US president accused Venezuela of using oil profits to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing to increase the military buildup.

Only on the previous day, US defense officials stated it had carried out strikes on three boats suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Pacific, leading to the deaths of eight people. Since 2 September, over 20 military engagements have resulted in the deaths of at least 99 people, most off the coast of Venezuela.

Administration Defends Tactics Amid Scrutiny

The administration has encountered growing demands to release video of a 2 September vessel attack. But, the defense secretary have declined to do so. The administration has defended its efforts as a success, saying it has stopped drugs from reaching US shores and has pushed back on concerns that it is exceeding the limits of lawful warfare.

While the administration has said the campaign is about halting drugs destined for the US, remarks from a senior aide appeared to confirm a broader geopolitical objective. In a recently published interview, the senior advisor said the leader “aims to keep on blowing boats up until the Venezuelan president cries uncle.”

This indicates the series of strikes may be linked to a push to remove Venezuela's sitting government.